The success ofArc Raiders exceeds all expectations. Less than three months after its official release, the cooperative shooter developed by Embark Studios has already reached 12 million copies sold. An achievement that the Swedish studio is celebrating in style: all players who have launched the game at least once before January 14, 2026 will receive a free golden raider tool.
Initially planned to mark 10 million players, this gift was postponed following the explosion in attendance during the holidays. The hammer will be distributed automatically by in-game mail on January 14, with no further action required.
Arc Raiders exceeds 12 million sales, an unexpected success
Launched on October 30, 2025Arc Raiders quickly found its audience on PC and consoles. Designed by former Battlefield developers, the game focuses on dynamic extraction gameplay, demanding cooperation and a strong visual universe. But even for Embark, this tidal wave exceeds forecasts. “The dazzling success of the game surprised us all,” admits executive producer Aleksander Grøndal. At the same time, the number of simultaneous players exploded on Steam, reaching 460,000 connections peaka record that even surpasses that of Helldivers 2.
A golden hammer offered to all players logged in before January 13
To obtain the golden tool, the condition is simple: have launched the game at least once before January 13, 2026 at midnight (Paris time). This is a purely cosmetic, but exclusive and collector’s item, distributed to all eligible accounts via internal in-game message.
If you’ve been playing Arc Raiders since launch, there’s nothing you need to do. Otherwise, just install it and launch it before the deadline. An initiative welcomed by the community, which sees this as a sincere and symbolic thank you.
The Embark studio wants to go even further
Asked by GamesRadar+design lead Virgil Watkins admits to feeling both pride and pressure: “Probably a little bit of both.” Because this success implies maintaining a high level of service, and continuing to nourish a constantly evolving game. “It’s encouraging that people still find the game captivating, immerse themselves in it and recommend it to their friends,” he explains. With post-launch dynamics, the team was able to analyze feedback, adjust priorities, and plan for the future. “Now that we have a little perspective, we can see what works, what doesn’t work, what players like and what they would like to see evolve.”
Arc Raiders, a community at the heart of development
The studio insists: it is the players themselves who shape the evolution of the game. “We pass each other in a corridor or a meeting and we say to ourselves: what is happening? It’s crazy.”, confides Watkins. Embark is already planning to strengthen its teams to support the game over time, with new content, balancing and events. The roadmap still remains unclear, but the ambition is clear: Arc Raiders is only just getting started. And with such a solid foundation, the sequel looks promising.